Tag: Boldly Go

Pirate Attack!!!!

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The same morning we left Grenada we picked up the end of a report on the Safety and Security Net regarding a cruising couple who were attacked by Pirates off the coast of Venezuela.   I did not catch the name of the persons attacked and so when we arrived in Tyrell Bay and were able to access the internet I found what I was looking for on Noonsite and was devastated to hear that it was our friends Ellen and Jim from s/v Boldly Go who we had last seen right here in Tyrell Bay where they had hauled their boat out to paint the bottom and do some repairs.  We had just been talking about them and wondering where they were.  You may recall from my previous blog entry on Carriacou a couple of months ago, I spoke about Ellen and I both growing up in Orange County and our fathers both working for the same company.     The only information I have regarding the incident is what I have read on the Noonsite page as follows:

Cruising yacht “Boldly Go”, crewed by Ellen and Jim Birrell, were attacked by pirates on 16 October 2010 at approximately N011 05.000 / W063 23.000 (4 1/2 hr sail west of Los Testigos en route to Porlamor) at 10:00 a.m. Venezuela time.  The couple were assaulted and held at gunpoint while the pirates ransacked “Boldly Go” taking all valuable items they could carry back in their 16′ pinero (wooden boat). Both Ellen and Jim are physically fine after their ordeal and are currently in Porlamor, Isla Margarita, at anchor,refitting their yacht and working with the GuardaCosta and Policia located in Pampatar, Isla Margarita (15 mins away).

I have emailed Ellen to see how they are holding up.   They are currently in Margarita, Venezuela.   They just replaced their notebook computer but will not be posting any information about their plans until they are well out of Venezuelan Waters.   They are having to replace all of their communication and navigation equipment before Boldly Go can safely leave.     Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

A Carriacou Birthday

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While we were in Carriacou we met and were befriended by James T and his wife Ellen…..capitan & crew of the S/V Boldly Go (Trekkies?).   We spent quite a few evenings getting to know each other and found out that Ellen and I both grew up in Orange County, CA.   She went to Corona del Mar HS and I to Tustin High.   Our fathers both worked for the same company, Autonetics that became North American Rockwell and spent a lot of our teen years along the beaches of Newport and Corona del Mar.   Small world.      We also met JT and Jayson, at a local birthday celebration.   They are father and his young son who had sailed over from Trinidad aboard S/V Stillawa to enjoy the regatta.   They had lost their dog a couple of days before and everyone had been on the lookout for her.  She turned up that day and they were as delighted to have her back and she was to be back.   I spent a little time showing Jayson the hand slapping game of Over the Top and how to Thumb Wrestle and we became good friends.   The Birthday celebration was in honor of, Cigarette…..yes that is a nickname.   Owner along with his son, of the Lambi Queen Restaurant and Bar.   There was food and drink in abundance and everyone was having a great time.   We enjoyed the music provided by a local DJ and after singing the traditional birthday song, it was time to……as they like to say,   Stick the Cake.    This is a fun local tradition of raising money to help pay for the party.    It is something like a cross between the dating game and a wedding cake cutting ceremony.   People pay money to nominate who will have the honor of Sticking the Cake.  That person has to stand in front of the cake and other people then pay to nominate who they think would be the best match to share the honor as well as the first bite of cake and a kiss.   There were a number of changes to both the female and male participants over the course of about 20 minutes along with much laughter and banter back and forth.   At one point a gentleman teasingly nominated a very young teen girl who seemed more mortified than delighted to be nominated for the honor.    In the end the Birthday Boy and his Ex-wife were left standing together to Stick the Cake.   Amidst howls of laughter, they shared a bite of cake but the kiss was conspicuously absent .

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